In Episode 308 of Where Brains Meet Beauty, Jodi Katz sits down with Michelle LeBlanc, VP Merchandising, Beauty, & Personal Care at CVS Health, to discuss the strategy behind merchandising beauty across more than 8,000 stores.

Michelle shares how CVS approaches localization, balances legacy and emerging brands, and thinks about shopper behavior through the lens of speed, convenience, and accessibility. She explains why CVS sees itself as an “anti-destination” retailer, how customer feedback shapes assortments, and what today’s shoppers are really asking for.

The conversation also explores Michelle’s 20-year career journey, her leadership philosophy centered on kindness and psychological safety, and the realities of balancing executive leadership with parenting three boys. It’s a thoughtful conversation about modern retail, beauty discovery, and leading with humanity.

Thanks to our partner CEW where you can discover how to accelerate your career - go to CEW.org and use code WBMB20 for 20% off your first year of membership.

Episode 307 of Where Brains Meet Beauty wraps the “Power Duos” series with Rose and Ben Siard, co-founders of Rose and Ben Beauty. They share their 23-year partnership from meeting as teens in Texas to building a brand rooted in clear roles, mutual respect, and a community-first mindset.

Before beauty, they were musicians, writing and performing together for over a decade, an experience that shaped their creative and business chemistry. Rose’s makeup journey began organically on social media, where a loyal, long-standing community became the foundation of the brand. Ben brought operational expertise from his career in oil and gas, creating a balance that allows Rose to focus on creativity while he handles execution.

They discuss maintaining authenticity while scaling, staying personally connected to their audience, and navigating challenges with transparency. The episode highlights their partnerships, their problem-solving approach to business, and how their shared history continues to influence their growth.

It’s a story of love, resilience, and building something meaningful together.

Episode 306 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the “Power Duos” series with sisters Allison and Jacqueline Taylor, co-founders of Le Prunier. What began as a fourth-generation Northern California plum farm evolved into a modern skincare brand rooted in sustainability, science, and family legacy.

Allison and Jacqueline took very different paths - music and fashion on one side, wellness and culinary science on the other but shared a deep curiosity about ingredients. That curiosity led them back to their family’s farm, where they uncovered the untapped potential of antioxidant-rich plum byproducts and transformed them into a hero skincare ingredient.

In this episode, they open up about building a business with siblings, dividing roles based on strengths, and creating boundaries that protect both the company and their relationships. They also share the reality of scaling a farm-based beauty brand from regenerative agriculture and proprietary production systems to navigating a sudden surge in demand after a viral celebrity moment after Chrissy Teigen mentioned the brand in 2020.

Also joined by their third sister, the founders reflect on how their definition of success has evolved from chasing milestones to prioritizing team wins, longevity, and shared growth. The conversation ends with a skincare-inspired travel game, where the sisters choose their dream “skin reset” destinations, from Bali to Seoul to Kyoto, and a gentle reminder that skin does best when we do less: be consistent, be careful when switching products, and keep the routine calm, especially when life is moving fast.

Le Prunier would like to offer our viewers 20% off just use code BEAUTY20 to try anything at leprunier.com.

Episode 305 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues our Power Duos theme with an iconic beauty brand and the duo helping it thrive in a new era: Laura Geller, Founder of Laura Geller Beauty, and Sara Mitzner, VP of Brand Marketing. Together they share how founder authenticity, sharp brand focus, and a deep understanding of the customer have powered massive relevance, especially as pro-aging and mature-skin makeup becomes a cultural movement.

Their power duo dynamic is built on mutual trust and amplification. Sara calls it plainly: Laura is the story. A founder who shows up, teaches, jokes, and connects makes marketing feel effortless. Laura credits Sara with making her relevant by tapping into her authenticity, letting her be funny, and building a content engine that actually sounds like her. A turning point came when Laura voiced concern that the brand was drifting away from its core QVC customer. Sara listened, ran a full brand analysis, confirmed the real demographic, and leaned in. That focus unlocked growth and helped the brand lead the pro-aging conversation at exactly the right moment in culture.

They also reveal what keeps the brand grounded in the customer. Laura is hands-on to the point of answering customer service questions late at night, not for optics, but to solve problems, teach better application, and learn what women actually need. It is the same customer obsession that shows up in hero products like the Best of the Best palette and the brand’s signature baked makeup process, made in Italy on terracotta tiles for a hydrating, never-chalky finish that works especially well on mature skin.

The episode closes with a fun Broadway-meets-beauty game (shade name or show tune) plus a reminder that the best brands do not chase every audience. They commit to one woman, understand her deeply, and let everything else follow.

Episode 304 of Where Brains Meet Beauty continues the Power Duos series with Jeffrey Lee, CEO & Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty and Katherine Rose, Vice President of Finance. Together they unpack what it really takes to scale a beauty brand through high-stakes moments - ERP overhauls, warehouse moves, tariff chaos, and rapid retail expansion.

Katherine shares how a career that started in public accounting evolved into operational leadership at a fast-growing startup, guided by a simple rule: say yes to opportunities and figure it out along the way. Jeffrey reflects on his unconventional path from corporate attorney to entrepreneur, and why great founders succeed by building strong processes and empowering people with deeper expertise than their own.

The episode also goes inside DIBS’ retail mindset. Jeffrey shares his mission to show up in Ulta doors across all 50 states, not as a checkbox, but to learn how the customer shops and to stand beside the field team doing the hard work in-store. Katherine shares what she has learned in the field too, including a new respect for the retail ecosystem and the reality that “it’s not in the back” is usually true. Their shared takeaway: retail success is built by the teams who show up, take notes, and stay close to the customer.

And yes, there are fun surprises too, including Jeffrey’s Miss Universe coaching background and his belief that posture is the ultimate confidence signal. The episode closes with a game built for this duo: Ulta locations across the country paired with activities, plus a Cheesecake Factory order that is nothing short of legendary.

Our Power Duos theme with a duo that is building in every sense of the word with Yongxi Tan and Aidan Neziri, co-founders of Bessie Nails. They share what it takes to launch a fast-growing press-on nail brand from a true consumer need, compete in a legacy category, and build a company together while also being partners in real life. Their roles are distinct but collaborative, and their dynamic is the through-line of this episode: Yongxi is momentum and experimentation, Aidan is precision and protection. The balance helps them move fast without breaking what matters.

The product innovation is just as compelling. Bessie’s handmade press-ons are crafted like salon nails, with real artists painting layers of gel and acrylic and placing details by hand. The result is a press-on that looks and feels like a salon set, but is designed to be removable and reusable when cared for properly. They also talk about wear options, from longer-hold glue to flexible tabs, reinforcing a core belief: press-ons should adapt to your lifestyle, not force you to plan your life around your nails.

When it comes to growth, they are building from community outward. Bessie sells DTC online and through pop-ups, leaning into in-person experiences that let customers see the artistry up close. They share plans to expand pop-ups into more cities and explore the right retail partners, while staying grounded in authenticity and local community building. Check out more at bessienails.com

A true power duo: Blair Lancer, CMO, and Daniela De Los Santos, Global Education Director from Lancer Skincare. Together they share what it takes to grow a family-founded, dermatologist-led brand in a world where trust is everything, education cuts through noise, and community is built one conversation at a time.

Daniela brings the brand to life on QVC, where she treats the camera like a one-on-one appointment, translating ingredients, claims, and routines in a way that feels like chatting with your mom or best friend. She also reflects on her own path, from dreaming of becoming a lawyer to earning her esthetics license, and why that “first step” opened doors she never could have predicted. Her message is clear: the esthetics career path is bigger than the treatment room, and experts are more valuable than ever in a skincare landscape crowded with misinformation.

Blair grew up around the brand and originally envisioned a future in fashion, even studying it at NYU. But a pivot into beauty led her back to the family business and into leadership. She opens up about becoming a face of the brand on social media over the last year, learning to embrace visibility, and even finding value in the occasional critical comment. For Blair, community building is not a buzzword. It is the rare opportunity to speak directly to the customer and earn trust in real time.

The heart of their “power duo” dynamic is simple: trust, transparency, and the willingness to push each other to execute. They talk candidly about leadership without micromanagement, the fine line between managing and hovering, and how feedback and accountability can be motivating when it comes from real expertise and mutual respect. They also share how they manage stress in demanding roles, from quiet resets and solo walks to staying grounded by asking better questions instead of catastrophizing.

The episode closes with a fun skin-science game, “Hyperpigmentation or Hype,” and a product spotlight on Lancer’s Gravity Dark Spot Correcting Serum, diving into what really causes discoloration and why consistency matters more than price tags when it comes to results. To check out any of the products discussed in today's episode head to lancerskincare.com.

Each year, the Listen Again Awards recognize the episodes our audience continues to return to. Conversations that stay relevant, spark reflection, and offer depth beyond the moment. We’re thrilled to honor the 2025 Listen Again Award winners in this special Where Brains Meet Beauty episode.

Q1 Power Moves: Excellence in Leadership Episode 277 – Danessa Myricks & Anncy Rowe. A powerful conversation on leadership, vulnerability, and growth. Danessa and Anncy explored what it truly means to lead with intention, create space for honest feedback, and continue evolving. Their openness around fear, empathy, and personal power made this episode unforgettable.

Q2 Health Compass: Navigating Wellness Careers Episode 288 – Lisa Rossmann & Bryan Appio. This conversation redefined modern leadership. Lisa and Bryan shared how empathy, clarity, and values-driven decision making shape stronger teams and better brands. A reminder that the most impactful businesses are built from the inside out.

Q3 Career Capital: Voices in Beauty Finance Episode 294 – Annie Robertson Hockey & Lauren D’Amore. A thoughtful look at beauty through the lens of investment, loyalty, and long-term value. Annie and Lauren unpacked how careers evolve, how mentorship matters, and why trust and relationships drive sustainable growth across med spas and consumer brands.

Q4 Artist & Influencer Insights: Wisdom Behind the Craft Episode 296 – Jess Martinez & Kirti Tewani. An honest conversation about building influence with boundaries, integrity, and intention. Jess and Kirti shared the realities behind virality, the importance of staying grounded, and why authenticity and creative freedom matter for both creators and brands.

These episodes reflect the heart of Where Brains Meet Beauty. Real conversations, thoughtful perspectives, and voices shaping the future of the industry.

???? Congratulations to our Listen Again Award Winners, explore excerpts from the winners in episode 301 or in full wherever you listen to podcasts.

For its 300th episode, Where Brains Meet Beauty highlights two women who prove that creative careers rarely follow a straight line. Celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist Sarai Martinez and influencer and UGC creator Tania Grover share how childhood dreams, unexpected pivots and sheer perseverance shaped the paths they are on today.

Sarai always knew she wanted to be a hairstylist, even drafting a sixth grade project imagining her future salon career. But family expectations and finances pushed her into fashion school, then insurance work, then years of assisting in high-end Boston salons on late nights and little pay. Marriage, kids and discouraging mentors led to a long break before she rebuilt her confidence, found supportive leadership and stepped back into artistry full-time. Today she works with prestige clients, balances her “Sarai by Day” influencer presence and stays grounded by choosing collaboration over diva moments on set.

Tania’s journey started in high school with dance videos she posted “for fun” until brands began sliding into her DMs. Content creation followed her through college ambassador gigs, paid brand deals and internships she earned through her TikTok skills. Still, she keeps a full-time tech job that offers stability and flexibility while she builds her creator career. Her schedule is relentless - early mornings filming, editing during commutes, posting across multiple accounts but she thrives on the structure and maintains tight creative control, supported by a manager who handles negotiations.

Both women talk openly about burnout, comparison, the pressure to constantly post and the often hidden emotional labor behind both artistry and influencing. Their shared message: trust your path, turn the detours into fuel, and don’t underestimate the power of a “practical” job to give you freedom, options and the confidence to say no.

Episode 299 of Where Brains Meet Beauty™ brings together two very different kinds of “technicians” who both turned specialized skills into flexible, creative lives. AR and AI developer, content creator and Cannes Lion winner Grace Choi sits beside fashion industry veteran, technical design consultant and creator Emily Kammeyer Sumner for a conversation that moves from X-Men superpowers to tax codes for dogs, and somehow makes it all make sense.

Grace shares how a makeup printer startup led her into AR filters, where she now builds the viral effects that other creators and brands rely on. She pulls back the curtain on being an “influencer’s influencer,” why a single well made filter can unlock hundreds of thousands of videos for a brand, and what it really means to bet on yourself without a safety net. She also teases her next chapter, shifting from building inside platforms like TikTok to building a platform of her own.

Emily traces her path from sewing in a neighbor’s pattern room to becoming a technical design leader in fashion, then walking away to build a life as a full time beauty and fashion creator and consultant. She talks about fit as a true loyalty driver, her work in size inclusive design, and the moment a routine doctor visit made her realize she was secretly working two full time jobs. She opens up about IVF, why she chose to let her community be part of that journey, how she navigates putting her son in content, and even how her dog Roxy is becoming an “entrepreneur” in the creator economy.

Together, Grace and Emily dig into the realities behind the grid: setting revenue goals, choosing the right manager, saying no to work that does not fit, and resisting the constant pull to turn every beautiful moment into content. From flexible schedules to burnout warning signs, from villa baby moons to late night laptop hours, this episode is a masterclass in building a career that is ambitious, sustainable and still deeply human.